Tasmania, also known as Lutruwita in the Aboriginal language, is Australia’s adventurous southern island state. It features rugged coastlines, temperate rainforests, staggering eucalyptus forests, sub-alpine regions, and vast buttongrass moorlands. If you’re looking for a fun outdoors-y time, this is the place to be! If, however, you’re looking for some relaxing activities within Hobart, check out these recommendations, or if you’re just seeking a fun day at the beach, check out some of these best beaches near Hobart.
My top adventure recommendations:
- Bruny Island
- Hastings Caves & Thermal Springs
- Tahune Forest Airwalk
- Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
- Russell Falls
- Mt. Wellington / Kunanyi
- Cape Deslacs Nature Reserve
1. Bruny Island
| Approx. Driving Time from Hobart: 30 mins + 20 min ferry ride |
Bruny Island is a 362 km2 island off the coast of Tasmania and only about a half hour’s drive from Hobart (plus a 20 minute ferry ride). Much like the rest of Tasmania, it has a rich natural and cultural history. Not only does this island have tons of beaches and nature reserves but it also has some of the very best locally produced gourmet foods and drinks, such as whisky, honey, oysters, and cheese – to name a few! You can easily spend a day here, exploring the stunning scenery and enjoying the local delicacies. For more on things to do on Bruny Island, check out my blog post: A Day on Tasmania’s Bruny Island.
2. Hastings Caves & Thermal Springs
| Approx. Driving Time from Hobart: 1h 30 mins |
More than 40 million years ago, the Hastings Cave system began its formation under the lush, forested canopies of southern Tasmania. It lay concealed and growing its subterranean delights until its discovery in 1917 by timber workers who crawled into a pocket of its opening one day while collecting lumber in the area. As part of the Hastings Cave system, the Newdegate Cave, named after the Governor of Tasmania at the time (1917-1920), is Australia’s largest dolomite cave open to tourists.
Here, you can embark on a 45-minute exploration of the Newdegate Cave toured by a park ranger. They’ll walk you through the various chambers and point out the impressive rock structures and features to be witnessed, which include: stalactites, stalagmites, helictites, columns, shawls, soda straws, and flowstone. I must say, it’s pretty impressive to see stalactites hanging from the ceilings everywhere you look! You’ll also get a good workout by descending and ascending 500 stairs throughout the journey.
After your tour, you can enjoy the relaxing thermal pool located at the visitor’s centre. Its translucent waters are bordered by fern trees and other lush vegetation, and there are picnic benches, change rooms, and washrooms available on site.
3. Tahune Forest Airwalk
| Approx. Driving Time from Hobart: 1h 20 mins |
Get up close and personal with Tasmania’s tree canopy! At 30 meters above the forest floor, take a 620 meter elevated walk among the staggeringly tall eucalyptus trees. From your vantage point, you’ll also see some key temperate rainforest tree species, such as myrtle beech (Nothofagus cunninghamii), sassafrass (Atherosperma moschatum), and leatherwood (Eucryphia lucida).
A cool feature of the airwalk is the cantilever which juts out over the Huon River – you’ll be able to look down past your feet through the metal slats to see the rushing waters 50 meters below. Over the railing, you’ll be able to admire the confluence of the Picton and Huon Rivers below the dishevelled tree tops of the surrounding forest and the picturesque hills beyond.
After enjoying the view from above, take in the sights from the forest floor by embarking on the Swinging Bridges Track. Here, you’ll walk alongside the Huon River where you can view Tasmania’s endemic Huon Pine (Lagarostrobos franklinii) and Celery-Top Pine (Phyllocladus aspleniifolius), as well as the common Australian Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon). You’ll walk over several suspension bridges (one of which is 62m long!) which take you over the Picton and Huon rivers, and you can even walk to a look-out point on the edge of where the two rivers converge. If you’re looking for a cool jungle-esque exploration experience, this is it!
4. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
| Approx. Driving Time from Hobart: 25 mins |
Have you ever wanted to hand-feed a kangaroo or see a snarling Tasmanian devil up close? If yes, then this sanctuary is a must-see! It was established in 1981 with the mission of rehabilitating injured wildlife and providing sanctuary to animals that would no longer be able to survive in the wild – either due to a severe injury or due to being brought up as pets. When possible, they re-introduce the successfully rehabilitated animals back into the wild. They offer tours throughout the day where you can learn about each of the enclosures and hear wholesome stories of animals that have been given a second chance at life.
Here, you’ll see: kangaroos, Tasmanian devils, wombats, echidnas, various birds, lizards, other reptiles, and much more! They even have a large kangaroo enclosure which you can walk into in order to pet and feed the kangaroos. It truly is a unique experience for animal-lovers and adventure-seekers alike!
5. Russell Falls
| Approx. Driving Time from Hobart: 1h 10 mins |
Check out Tasmania’s 3-tiered jewel of a waterfall within one of its oldest, and deemably most diverse, national parks. Mount Field National Park is home to various stunning waterfalls, some of the tallest eucalyptus trees you’ve ever seen, ancient, decaying Huon pine tree trunks, and a plethora of splendid streams and creeks.
I highly recommend doing the Three Falls Circuit – it’s 6 km long and takes about 2-3 hours to complete. From the visitor’s centre, follow the Russell Falls Nature Walk Track to reach the astounding Russell Falls – the renowned crown jewel of this national park. Then, continue along to Horseshoe Falls. From there, the trail meanders counterclockwise along the Tall Trees Walk where you’ll see the tallest species of flowering plants in the world – the swamp gum (Eucalyptus regnans), which can reach heights of over 114 meters tall! Then, continuing along the Lady Barron Falls Circuit, you’ll pass various streams and eventually reach the roaring Lady Barron Falls. The trail then leads you along the beautifully babbling Lady Barron Creek which meanders among some amazing fern trees and lush undergrowth. You’ll then climb a flight of stairs to reach an arid section of forest which then leads back to the visitor’s centre. If you love nature and the outdoors, you will not be disappointed by this breathtaking hike.
6. Mt. Wellington / Kunanyi
| Approx. Driving Time from Hobart: 25 mins |
Mount Wellington, also known as kunanyi in the Aboriginal language, is the great, big mountain that towers over Hobart. From just about anywhere in the bay of the Derwent River, you’ll be able to see the majestic 1,271-meter tall mountain. You can drive up to the summit along a beautiful winding road, or you can hike up on one of the many trails leading to the summit. The views are incredible! For more on hiking this mountain, check out this blog post.
7. Cape Deslacs Nature Reserve
| Approx. Driving Time from Hobart: 30 mins |
If you’re looking for some stunning coastal scenery paired with a nice hiking experience, this is a great place to go! The gorgeous Clifton Beach beckons any traveler towards its turquoise blue waters and pristine sandy beach. Here, you can enjoy a few low intensity hikes along the cliffs and sand dunes and you’ll be sure to spot a muttonbird depending on what time of year you visit. For more tips on this beach area and for other great beach recommendations, be sure to check out this blog post.
